Foster Success Challenge A Success

Former foster youth will receive help with school, housing, transportation, job and life skills thanks to the Foster Success Challenge.

These children are abused and neglected by their families and enter foster care for their own protection. At the young age of 18, they must leave the state's care and make it on their own without the support of parents and family.

In fact, each year in Broward, 120 foster youth turn 18 are forced out of the system.

The Foster Success Challenge, issued in May during National Foster Care Month, was led by Nancy Bryant and husband Jerry Taylor to help these youth. Nancy and Jerry matched every dollar-up to $50,000 in total- given to the Challenge. After just five short weeks, we are proud to announce that, thanks to our generous philanthropists, the Challenge has been met. $100,000 now goes to organizations serving former foster youth to provide:

300 hours of GED counseling, tutoring and life skills classes

bus passes so that youth can fulfill school, work and home commitments

partial housing subsidies to fill the gap between income and safe housing

The Foster Success Challenge is the latest of initiatives totaling $15 million over the last eight years to help foster youth transition from care. The Community Foundation remains committed to offer a hand up to young people, so they may become successful, independent adults.

Our thanks to those who helped us get there.

Meet Kristen

a former foster youth

When Kristen turned 18 and had to leave the foster family she had called home for the past five years, she thought she could make it on her own. Kristen was determined to finish high school; unfortunately, she had to drop out to find work to support herself. After several part-time jobs, she could not make ends meet. With nowhere to go, Kristen became homeless, sometimes in a shelter, sometimes on the couch of a friend.

Fortunately, Kristen learned about a local support program for former foster youth and was connected to a comprehensive set of services that would help her get back on track. These programs offered job training, academic tutoring, housing support, connections to employment and mentoring, all with one goal in mind, to help youth like Kristen grow into successful adults. Today, Kristen has returned to school, has a place to live, and is employed in an internship program at a local business. She now has more than a job and a safe place to call home. She has a future.

Broward County is home to more than 20 organizations that provide specialized support like this to former foster youth. Support the Foster Success Challenge with a gift and help us: